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Home Care - 3.4 Children
3.4 Children
Children affected by AIDS are at the extreme end of the spectrum of vulnerability. As the sickness of the parent(s) progresses, the effect on the lives of their children is often drastic. They may have to leave school to care for their parents, and/or may have to start work. Some may have to leave home, even before the death of one or both parents. Discussions with HCTs reveal that dealing with issues related to children is becoming an increasing part of their workload.
Although children were not a major focus of this evaluation, a short section of the questionnaire for PLHA was devoted to this issue. Of the 100 PLHA interviewed, 67 had children in the family. The findings outlined below refer to these 67 families.
The 67 families were asked if participating in the home care programme had resulted in any changes for the children in the household. 34% clearly stated that the home care programme has directly improved the quality of life of children in their families. Note that this should not be interpreted as meaning that 66% feel that the programme has had no effect on the quality of life of the children. It is often difficult (especially in an interview situation) to spontaneously make causal connections, for example linking home care provision to improved health of parent and improved capacity of family to provide care, to reduced burden on children, resulting on improved quality of life of the children.
For the 34% who acknowledge these causal connections, the time spent by the HCTs in providing care and welfare support is felt to be important in releasing children from some of the burden of care. The provision of money helps to buy clothes for the children and pay for schooling, while the provision of medicines helps to improve health and well-being of the parent, enabling them to devote energy to caring for the children. Finally, psychosocial support helps foster more positive attitude about the future.
“The Home Care Team help me continue with my business of selling food; before (they started visiting), I couldn’t even get out of bed. Without (the HCT) my children would have to leave school to look after me.” [widow; age 36; Tonle Bassac].
Children affected by AIDS are at the extreme end of the spectrum of vulnerability. As the sickness of the parent(s) progresses, the effect on the lives of their children is often drastic. They may have to leave school to care for their parents, and/or may have to start work. Some may have to leave home, even before the death of one or both parents. Discussions with HCTs reveal that dealing with issues related to children is becoming an increasing part of their workload.
Although children were not a major focus of this evaluation, a short section of the questionnaire for PLHA was devoted to this issue. Of the 100 PLHA interviewed, 67 had children in the family. The findings outlined below refer to these 67 families.
- In 21% of the families, children have had to start working since the patient became sick.
- In 30% of the families, the children have had to provide care, or take up major additional household duties.
- 40% of the children have had to leave school, or take significant periods away from school.
- 40% of the families said that since the patient became sick, the children have had to go without certain things (food, clothes, books etc).
- In 28% of the families, one or more children have had to leave home.
The 67 families were asked if participating in the home care programme had resulted in any changes for the children in the household. 34% clearly stated that the home care programme has directly improved the quality of life of children in their families. Note that this should not be interpreted as meaning that 66% feel that the programme has had no effect on the quality of life of the children. It is often difficult (especially in an interview situation) to spontaneously make causal connections, for example linking home care provision to improved health of parent and improved capacity of family to provide care, to reduced burden on children, resulting on improved quality of life of the children.
For the 34% who acknowledge these causal connections, the time spent by the HCTs in providing care and welfare support is felt to be important in releasing children from some of the burden of care. The provision of money helps to buy clothes for the children and pay for schooling, while the provision of medicines helps to improve health and well-being of the parent, enabling them to devote energy to caring for the children. Finally, psychosocial support helps foster more positive attitude about the future.
“The Home Care Team help me continue with my business of selling food; before (they started visiting), I couldn’t even get out of bed. Without (the HCT) my children would have to leave school to look after me.” [widow; age 36; Tonle Bassac].